Saturday, May 23, 2015

New Testament- Lesson 78

Matthew Chapter 10- Part 2

Guidelines for the Apostles initial work for the kingdom (Matthew 10:5-15)-

Jesus' priority was to send his newly chosen disciples to the Israelites who as a nation had moved away from God. He forbade them initially to go to the Gentiles. He asked them to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons from those afflicted by them. His command to them was "Freely ye have received, freely give."He did not want them to charge anyone for the message that they were delivering or for the healings or deliverances. He did not want them to be worried about provisions, for they would be provided with, by them who received their message. He wanted them to enquire who in the town or city that they entered was worthy (God fearing & hospitable) and stay with them till they left. From a God fearing rest, they were to visit houses and proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom and make his Messiahship known. If the inhabitants of a house received their message, the disciples work would be fruitful there bringing peace or else it would have no godly fruit resulting in that house. Any house or city that rejected the Gospel would be symbolically condemned by them shaking the dust of their feet when they left the place and that house or city would be finally judged on the day of judgment for rejecting the Messiah and the heavenly gift of salvation through him.